13 Relievers in 7 Games: Chicago's Wild Pitching Plan Blew Up The League

Alright, so you think you've seen everything in baseball, right? Wrong. Absolutely wrong. The Chicago Cubs wrapped up a road trip doing something that should have every GM in baseball scratching their heads, and frankly, it's straight-up wild. We're talking thirteen different relievers over seven games, folks. THIRTEEN. And get this, they swept the Mets, then snagged two of three over Milwaukee, including a 4-3, ten-inning nail-biter on Sunday. That's not just luck, that's pure, unadulterated baseball chaos, and somehow, it's totally working.

The Bullpen Bandits of Chicago

Cubs manager Craig Counsell, that dude is a wizard or something, because he pulled this off with a team that's basically held together by duct tape and pure will. Think about it: they faced consecutive rainouts that hammered their rotation, then another wave of pitching injuries that forced them into desperate measures. A shocking twelve pitchers are on the injured list right now, including an entire starting rotation! Can you even imagine that? Counsell straight-up admitted, "We don't have that big of a stockpile. I don't think anybody does. So we're going to have to get through it. We'll keep looking for guys that can do the job." And they are! Bryse Wilson came in for 4 1/3 scoreless innings as the "bulk reliever" after Ryan Rolison opened. Then Jordan Wicks, the lucky thirteenth reliever of the week, closed out Sunday's game by inducing a bases-loaded double-play ball. This isn't your grandpa's baseball, this is pure, winning grit.

San Diego's Starter Squeeze

But while Chicago is making lemonade out of lemons, down in San Diego, it's a completely differen

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t vibe. The Padres are struggling to get *any* length from their starters, and it’s putting their bullpen in a wicked spot. Just look at Griffin Canning. This dude might need a miracle to keep his spot in the rotation. Last time out, he couldn't even make it out of the second inning of a win against Atlanta, giving up four hits and four runs while recording only two outs! TWO! OUTS! Padres manager Craig Stammen is out here saying his bullpen "can't use them in the correct lengths" and that starters "have to be able to get us at least five (innings) or we've got to figure out a different way to do it." Short starts have been the theme for them all season, with twenty-four of their wins coming after the starter worked five or fewer innings. They just dropped a 4-2 loss on Sunday to the Dodgers in a rubber game, after Los Angeles outscored them 19-5 in the last two games. They'd just swept Atlanta, but the inconsistency is brutal. So, tonight, it's the Cubs taking on the Padres, and honestly, it feels like two teams heading in completely opposite directions, especially on the mound. Chicago is rolling with Shota Imanaga, who’s sitting at 5-6 with a 4.40 ERA, but has been a total boss against San Diego in three previous outings, going 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA. For the Padres? They didn't even name a starter late Sunday night, which tells you everything about the uncertainty in their rotation. Canning *could* get the ball, but with Jhony Brito and German Marquez almost done with rehab assignments, his time might be running out. This game isn't just a win or loss, it’s a real test of whether San Diego can find *any* stability on the mound, or if Chicago's bullpen magic can keep defying all odds. Get ready, this one's gonna be a wild ride.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.